How to Become an Archaeologist: Career Guide, Courses, Eligibility, Qualifications, After 12th, Top Colleges, Steps, Types, Benefits, Skills, Jobs, Salary

Senior Content Specialist

Archaeology is the scientific study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and analysis of material remains from the past. An Archaeologist is a qualified and skilled professional who studies these human activities through the recovery and analysis of material culture from the past. Becoming an Archaeologist is one of the most thrilling professions a candidate can opt for but at the same time, it requires a lot of theoretical and practical understanding of the subject matter. Check: What does an Archaeologist do

In order to become an Archaeologist, an aspirant must complete a bachelor's degree in Archaeology, Anthropology or any other related fields like Geography and History from some of the top Archaeology Colleges and Universities in India like the University of Delhi, Mumbai University etc. Admissions across both UG and PG levels are made on the basis of both merits as well as entrance exams such as AUCET and IPU CET. One can find entry-level jobs with a bachelor's degree, but most Archaeologists prefer to pursue their master's degree after graduation. A master's degree provides a more thorough understanding of the field and develops technical skills.

The starting salary of an Archaeologist in India with a bachelor's degree is INR 1.5 LPA; for postgraduate degree holders, the starting salary is INR 3 LPA. A PhD degree holder Archaeologist gets INR 5 LPA as starting salary. Read More: Salary of an Archaeologist

Table of Content

How to Become an Archaeologist: Quick Facts
Who are Archaeologists
What does an Archaeologist do
Eligibility Criteria to Become an Archaeologist
Types of Archaeologists

5.1 Classical Archaeologists

5.2 Historic Archaeologists

5.3 Underwater Archaeologists

5.4 Ethno Archaeologists

Steps to Become an Archaeologist
Archaeology Courses

7.1 Entrance Exams

Best Archaeology Colleges in India
Skills Required to Become an Archaeologist
Benefits of Becoming an Archaeologist
Archaeology Jobs
Top Recruiters for Archaeologists
Salary of an Archaeologist
How to Become an Archaeologist: FAQs

How to Become an Archaeologist: Quick Facts

Eligibility	Bachelor's degree in anthropology or related field
Skills Required	Excellent research and writing skills, knowledge of History, and Communication skills
Starting Salary (INR)	1.5 LPA
Average Annual Salary (INR)	5 LPA
Highest Salary (INR)	22 LPA

Who are Archaeologists

Archaeologists are researchers who study past human activities by excavating, historical data interpretations and analysing objects and sites of historical interest. They implement excavation projects, informally known as digs, preserve archaeological remains and collect data that informs their understanding of the past.

Archaeologists are the scientific researchers of past human activities.
They research by excavating the places which are of historical importance.
Archaeologists ascertain the historical dating of excavated objects through laboratory tests and other scientific methods.
They are responsible for making observations about past culture, and human behaviours. through the historical remains, they found during the excavation of sites.
Archaeologists are the prime source who pave the root for history writing.

What does an Archaeologist do

The duties of an Archaeologist are listed below for your reference.

Conduct field investigations of historic and prehistoric sites.
Managing the logistics of projects at the sites, and overseeing the collection of artefacts.
Archaeologists are also responsible for collecting data at a site by taking photographs, measurements and soil samples.
Analysing artefacts, conducting tests, undertaking research and writing reports.
Archaeologists analyse the findings in such a way as to ascertain the economic, political, social and cultural aspects of the people who lived long ago.
Archaeologists create a hypothesis for the excavation once they believe that they can get answers to specific questions.
The research and hypothesis made by the Archaeologists become the ground evidence of history writing.
Archaeologists are also responsible for sharing information by writing and lecturing, and by serving as curators for museums and historical sites.
Archaeologists publish their findings with relevant photographs and their interpretations which are used as data for further research by historians and fellow Archaeologists.

Eligibility Criteria to Become an Archaeologist

To become an Archaeologist candidates need to complete their 10+2 first. After completion of senior secondary, a bachelor's degree in Archaeology or Anthropology or in any related streams is mandatory. Candidates can become Archaeologists at entry level with a bachelor’s degree but a Master’s degree and PhD are preferable qualifications for becoming an Archaeologist. The eligibility criteria required to become an Archaeologist are listed below.

A minimum of 50% marks in higher secondary from a recognised board.
A bachelor’s degree in anthropology, archaeology or any other related field like geography, humanities and history is the minimum essential qualification to become an Archaeologist.
Though a candidate can become an Archaeologist at entry level with a bachelor's degree, master's and PhD degrees in the related streams are the preferred qualifications for becoming an Archaeologist.
For becoming an Archaeologist, it is necessary for an aspiring candidate to be physically fit and healthy as the role requires a lot of travelling and fieldwork.
The minimum age required for becoming an Archaeologist is 18 years.

Types of Archaeologists

Archaeologists are classified into four major categories depending on their work profiles. These types of Archaeologists with their average annual salaries are tabulated below.

Classical Archaeologist

Definition	The Archaeologists examining and researching the ancient Greek and Roman civilisations are known as classical Archaeologists
Average Annual Salary (INR)	3 L

Historic Archaeologists

Definition	Historical archaeology is a conjunction of history and anthropology whereby the Archaeologist seeks to understand the cultural processes and human experiences that produced the world we live in today through examination of the forms of writing and recording of information by past cultures.
Average Annual Salary (INR)	3 L

Underwater Archaeologists

Definition	Underwater Archaeologists employ special techniques to study shipwrecks and other submerged archaeological sites such as water-buried cities.
Average Annual Salary (INR)	5 L

Ethno Archaeologists

Definition	Ethno- Archaeologists sought to understand the past activities of human lives by studying today’s living groups of hunter-gatherers. Observing these living cultures in their natural environment and cautiously making deductions about the characteristics and behaviour of their ancestors.
Average Annual Salary (INR)	5 L

Steps to Become an Archaeologist

The crucial steps to becoming an Archaeologist are listed below for your reference.

Candidates must secure a minimum of 50% marks in 10+2 from any recognised board.
To become an Archaeologist candidates must appear in the respective entrance exams like CUET, IPU CET, and DUET and secure good marks in the competitive examination.
Candidates need to get admission to the top colleges for undergraduate courses in archaeology, History, Humanities or other related disciplines.
Candidates need to complete an undergraduate course in the respective stream with a good percentage.
After completion of a bachelor’s degree, candidates need to start preparing for postgraduate entrance examinations like CUET (PG), and JNUEE.
To become an Archaeologist, candidates must qualify for the PG entrance examination and get admission to the top colleges.
Candidates are advised to apply for internships in ICHR, ASI etc. to gain some practical experience.
Candidates must complete their PhD degree in Archaeology courses or in related streams as these are the most desirable qualifications for becoming an Archaeology Professor or Lecturer across various colleges and universities.

Archaeology Courses

Candidates can become an archaeologist at entry level with an undergraduate degree in archaeology or any related streams like anthropology, history, geography etc. but a postgraduate or a PhD in Archaeology and other related streams are always preferred. The various archaeology courses are tabulated below.

Parameters	BA Archaeology	MA Archaeology	PhD Archaeology
Duration	3 Years	2 Years	5 Years
Eligibility	10 +2 with minimum 50% marks from any recognised board	BA in Archaeology or in any related field from any recognised university.	MA in Archaeology or in any related field from any recognised university.
Top Colleges	Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak etc.	Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, University of Calcutta etc.	Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi Guru Gobind singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi etc.
Entrance Exams	CUCET (UG)	CUCET (PG)	PRT, UGC NET
Average Course Fees	INR 30,000	INR 25,000	INR 50,000
Average Salary	INR 1.5 LPA	INR 3 LPA	INR 6 LPA

Entrance Exams

To become an archaeologist, there are entrance exams conducted by various universities like AUCET, CUET etc. for admission in undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD courses. Some of the important entrance exams for becoming an Archaeologist are tabulated below.

Name of the Exams	Application Deadlines	Admit Card	Exam Dates	Results
AU CET	Till 3rd week of May 2023	Last week of May 2023	June 2023	June 2023
CUET	February 10, 2023 - March 12, 2023	2nd week of May 2023	May 21, 2023 - May 31, 2023	June 2023
IPU CET	March - June, 2023	4th week of June 2023	July 2023	August 2023
(CUCET)	October 31, 2022	2nd week of May 2023	May 21, 2023 - May 31, 2023	June 2023

Best Archaeology Colleges in India

There are several top Archaeology colleges and universities that a candidate can choose to pursue their desired courses. Some of these universities are Banaras Hindu University, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak etc. The course fee for an undergraduate degree in Archaeology from top universities in India ranges between INR 1500 to INR 30,000 per semester.

A few of these top universities with their fee structure are tabulated below.

Name of the Colleges	Location	Average Course Fees (INR)
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi	Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh	30,000
Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak	Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh	8,960
Andhra University, Visakhapatnam	Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh	15,000
The Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara	Vadodara, Gujrat	20,000
University of Calcutta	Kolkata, West Bengal	24,000
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University	Aurangabad, Maharastra	12,000
Punjab University, Chandigarh	Chandigarh Punjab	30,000
Patna University, Patna	Patna, Bihar	12,000
Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University	Srinagar, Uttarakhand	20,000
University of Kota	Kota, Rajasthan	25,000

Skills Required to Become an Archaeologist

An Archaeologist needs to be well-equipped with the technical and non-technical skills associated with the profession. They need to be well-versed in non-technical skills which include in-depth research of historical, cultural and social prospects of human life.

As it is said about Archaeologists, they dig less and research more. The role requires technical skills like research and analytical abilities, along with a basic knowledge of computers and their software.

The top skills that are required to become an Archaeologist are tabulated below.

Working Knowledge of GPS Systems	Database Management	Knowledge of CAD Software
Ccommunication Skills	Analytical Thinking Ability	Research Writing Skills
Technical Report Writing Skills	Keen interest in history	Patience and Attention to Details

Benefits of Becoming an Archaeologist

Every job comes with its own share of pros and associated benefits and perks. Similarly, there are several benefits of becoming an Archaeologist that is pointed out below.

Opportunity to work with Government Organisations: Archaeologists get opportunities to work with government organisations like the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and many others. Archaeologists are appointed as senior research officers in government institutions after qualifying UPSC examination.
Travelling Opportunity: Archaeologists need to search for sites of historical importance so that they can find the remains of past human lives by excavating those sites. This search for sites of historical importance takes them to almost every part of the world.
Opportunity to Work as Lecturers: The private and government universities appoint experienced Archaeologists as visiting, guest and permanent lecturers. They make the students well aware of the historical culture and past human lives through their practical and on-site experiences.
Publish Research Books: The research made by the Archaeologist gives wider learning experiences to the students, fellow Archaeologists and researchers. Thus, Archaeologists get the opportunity to publish their research in the form of books.
Opportunity to work as a History Writer for the government: The process of history writing involves a lot of research and learning. As the Archaeologists are having proper knowledge of the historical remains found in the excavation, they become the prime witness in the process of history writing. Thus, they are appointed by the government for the purpose of history writing on the basis of the historical remains found and their archaeological interpretations.

Archaeology Jobs

There are several positions and designations that are associated with the job of an Archaeologist. Tabulated below is the job of an Archaeologist across various profiles and designations for your reference.

Job Profiles	Job Description
Museums In Charge	They are responsible for managing museums and communicating the findings of archaeological research to visitors.
Surveyor	Surveyors are in charge of making surveys regarding sites of historical importance.
Research Officer	They are responsible for writing the observation of the findings from a particular site and publishing the same research
Photographer Archaeologist	A Photographer Archaeologist is in charge of collecting photos and videos of the materials found in the archaeological excavation.

Top Recruiters for Archaeologists

Some of the top recruiters for Archaeologists in India are tabulated below for your reference

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)	Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR)	Government Museums
Art Galleries	Government Universities	Private Universities

Salary of an Archaeologist

The salary of Archaeologists changes with the change in their designations. The designation-wise average annual salary of Archaeologists is tabulated below.

Designations	Average Annual Salary (INR)
Surveyor	2.66 L
Land Surveyor	3.60 L
Photographer Archaeologist	5 L
Junior Surveyor	1.5 L
Research Writer (Officer)	10 L

How to Become an Archaeologist: FAQs

Ques. What are the qualifications required to become an Archaeologist?

Ans. The minimum academic qualification for becoming an Archaeologist is a bachelor’s degree in archaeology, anthropology, history or any other related streams.

Ques. What is the minimum salary an Archaeologist gets?

Ans. The minimum salary an Archaeologist gets in India is INR 1.5 LPA which increases with the experience and additional academic qualifications gained.

Ques. What is the maximum salary that an Archaeologist can get in India?

Ans. The maximum salary an Archaeologist gets in India is INR 18 LPA and in some cases even more.

Ques. What is the average annual salary of an Archaeologist?

Ans. The average annual salary of an Archaeologist in India is INR 6 LPA with a minimum annual salary of INR 1.5 L and a maximum annual salary of INR 18 L.

Ques. Is it important to have a master's degree in archaeology to become an Archaeologist?

Ans. A candidate can become an Archaeologist at entry level with a bachelor’s degree in Archaeology, history or any related streams. A master’s degree is not mandatory for becoming an Archaeologist in India but is among the preferred qualifications for becoming the same.

Ques. What is the scope of Archaeologists in India?

Ans. The scope of Archaeologists in India is very wide. From government institutions like ICHR and ASI to private museums, Archaeologists can get career opportunities. Archaeologists get the opportunity to work as lecturers in universities too.

Ques. Do Archaeologists get government jobs in India?

Ans. Archaeologists get a chance to work with government organisations like ICHR, ASI. They are appointed as museums in-charge in the government museums. Apart from this experienced Archaeologists get the opportunity to work as History writers for the government of India and are also appointed as lecturers in government universities.

Ques. What are the top institutions recruiting Archaeologists?

Ans. The institutions recruiting the Archaeologists are the Indian Council of Historical research (ICHR), the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Government of India etc.

Ques. Does Archaeologists’ salary change with qualifications?

Ans. Indeed the salary of Archaeologists changes with qualification. An Archaeologist with a bachelor’s degree gets a starting annual salary of INR 1.5 L while an Archaeologist with a master’s degree gets a starting annual salary of INR 3 L. An Archaeologist with NET JRF or PhD qualification gets a starting annual salary of INR 5 L.

Ques. Does Archaeologists’ salary increase with experience gained?

Ans. Indeed the salary of Archaeologists increases with the experience gained. A fresher Archaeologist in India gets an average annual salary of INR 3 L while Archaeologists with 4 - 5 years of relevant experience get an average annual salary of INR 8 LPA. An Archaeologist with 10- 12 years of experience gets a salary of INR 15 LPA and in some cases even more.